Medicinal herbs: The missing link to sustainable aquaculture

Aquaculture, given its direct role in the human diet, mandates strict quality assurance and health protocols. Healthy fish require a strong immune system to defend themselves from a broad spectrum of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Stimulating the immune system is a prevalent measure taken to ensure satisfactory immune response and disease control. Measures against disease outbreaks are available, such as chemoprophylaxis with vaccines, chemical therapeutics, and antibiotics. All of which, alongside their benefits, pose certain risks to the fish’s habitat and itself. Natural substances extracted from herbs or their parts (roots, leaves, etc) tend to be the most effective therapeutics with the least adverse effects. In this study, natural remedies have been discussed as a potent method of preventive care in aquaculture.

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Biological therapy

Oxford Handbook of Cancer Nursing ◽

10.1093/med/9780198569244.003.0019 ◽

2007 ◽

pp. 249-260

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Monoclonal Antibodies ◽

Immune System ◽

Tumour Growth ◽

Biological Therapy ◽

Biological Therapies ◽

Natural Substances ◽

Anti Tumour Effect

Principles 250 Immunotherapy 252 Monoclonal antibodies 254 Other biological therapies 258 Biological therapies aim to produce an anti-tumour effect, either by activating the patient's immune system, or by administering natural substances present in the immune system as treatments. These treatments cause an immune response in the patient that eliminates or delays tumour growth....

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The Potential of Toll-Like Receptors to Modulate Avian Immune System: Exploring the Effects of Genetic Variants and Phytonutrients

Frontiers in Genetics ◽

10.3389/fgene.2021.671235 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Muhammad Saif-ur Rehman ◽

Saif ur Rehman ◽

Wasim Yousaf ◽

Faiz-ul Hassan ◽

Waqas Ahmad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Immune System ◽

Defense Mechanism ◽

Disease Outbreaks ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Toll Like Receptors ◽

Nutrient Metabolism ◽

Nutritional Interventions ◽

Potential Association ◽

Potential Applications

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pathogen recognition receptors, and primitive sources of innate immune response that also play key roles in the defense mechanism against infectious diseases. About 10 different TLRs have been discovered in chicken that recognize ligands and participate in TLR signaling pathways. Research findings related to TLRs revealed new approaches to understand the fundamental mechanisms of the immune system, patterns of resistance against diseases, and the role of TLR-specific pathways in nutrient metabolism in chicken. In particular, the uses of specific feed ingredients encourage molecular biologists to exploit the relationship between nutrients (including different phytochemicals) and TLRs to modulate immunity in chicken. Phytonutrients and prebiotics are noteworthy dietary components to promote immunity and the production of disease-resistant chicken. Supplementations of yeast-derived products have also been extensively studied to enhance innate immunity during the last decade. Such interventions pave the way to explore nutrigenomic approaches for healthy and profitable chicken production. Additionally, single-nucleotide polymorphisms in TLRs have shown potential association with few disease outbreaks in chickens. This review aimed to provide insights into the key roles of TLRs in the immune response and discuss the potential applications of these TLRs for genomic and nutritional interventions to improve health, and resistance against different fatal diseases in chicken.

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Regulatory Cells and Immunosuppressive Cytokines: Parasite-Derived Factors Induce Immune Polarization

Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology ◽

10.1155/2007/94971 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2007 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ali Ouaissi

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Immune System ◽

Suppressor Cells ◽

Current Data ◽

Control Measures ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Host Immune System ◽

Regulatory Cells ◽

Protozoan Parasites ◽

Humoral Factors

Parasitic infections are prevalent in both tropical and subtropical areas. Most of the affected and/or exposed populations are living in developing countries where control measures are lacking or inadequately applied. Although significant progress has been made in our understanding of the immune response to parasites, no definitive step has yet been successfully done in terms of operational vaccines against parasitic diseases. Evidence accumulated during the past few years suggests that the pathology observed during parasitic infections is in part due to deregulation of normal components of the immune system, mainly cytokines, antibodies, and immune effector cell populations. A large number of studies that illustrate how parasites can modify the host immune system for their own benefit have been reported in both metazoan and protozoan parasites. The first line of defense against foreign organisms is barrier tissue such as skin, humoral factors, for instance the complement system and pentraxin, which upon activation of the complement cascade facilitate pathogen recognition by cells of innate immunity such as macrophages and DC. However, all the major groups of parasites studied have been shown to contain and/or to release factors, which interfere with both arms of the host immune system. Even some astonishing observations relate to the production by some parasites of orthologues of mammalian cytokines. Furthermore, chronic parasitic infections have led to the immunosuppressive environment that correlates with increased levels of myeloid and T suppressor cells that may limit the success of immunotherapeutic strategies based on vaccination. This minireview briefly analyzes some of the current data related to the regulatory cells and molecules derived from parasites that affect cellular function and contribute to the polarization of the immune response of the host. Special attention is given to some of the data from our laboratory illustrating the role of immunomodulatory factors released by protozoan parasites, in the induction and perpetuation of chronic disease.

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Secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in COVID-19: correlation of the autopsy findings of bone marrow haemophagocytosis with HScore

Journal of Clinical Pathology ◽

10.1136/jclinpath-2020-207337 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. jclinpath-2020-207337

Author(s):

Claudia Núñez-Torrón ◽

Ana Ferrer-Gómez ◽

Esther Moreno Moreno ◽

Belen Pérez-Mies ◽

Jesús Villarrubia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Immune Response ◽

Immune System ◽

Multiorgan Failure ◽

Histological Findings ◽

Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis ◽

Bone Marrow Tissue ◽

Autopsy Findings ◽

Specific Finding ◽

Clinical Records

BackgroundSecondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) is characterised by a hyper activation of immune system that leads to multiorgan failure. It is suggested that excessive immune response in patients with COVID-19 could mimic this syndrome. Some COVID-19 autopsy studies have revealed the presence of haemophagocytosis images in bone marrow, raising the possibility, along with HScore parameters, of sHLH.AimOur objective is to ascertain the existence of sHLH in some patients with severe COVID-19.MethodsWe report the autopsy histological findings of 16 patients with COVID-19, focusing on the presence of haemophagocytosis in bone marrow, obtained from rib squeeze and integrating these findings with HScore parameters. CD68 immunohistochemical stains were used to highlight histiocytes and haemophagocytic cells. Clinical evolution and laboratory parameters of patients were collected from electronic clinical records.ResultsEleven patients (68.7%) displayed moderate histiocytic hyperplasia with haemophagocytosis (HHH) in bone marrow, three patients (18.7%) displayed severe HHH and the remainder were mild. All HScore parameters were collected in 10 patients (62.5%). Among the patients in which all parameters were evaluable, eight patients (80%) had an HScore >169. sHLH was not clinically suspected in any case.ConclusionsOur results support the recommendation of some authors to use the HScore in patients with severe COVID-19 in order to identify those who could benefit from immunosuppressive therapies. The presence of haemophagocytosis in bone marrow tissue, despite not being a specific finding, has proved to be a very useful tool in our study to identify these patients.

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The Gene Regulatory Roles of Herbal Extracts on the Growth, Immune System, and Reproduction of Fish

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11082167 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 2167

Author(s):

Ehsan Ahmadifar ◽

Hamideh Pourmohammadi Fallah ◽

Morteza Yousefi ◽

Mahmoud A. O. Dawood ◽

Seyed Hossein Hoseinifar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Mode Of Action ◽

Medicinal Herbs ◽

Environmental Stressors ◽

Fish Diet ◽

Sustainable Aquaculture ◽

Herbal Supplements ◽

Aquatic Animals ◽

Gene Regulatory

The crucial need for safe and healthy aquatic animals obligates researchers in aquaculture to investigate alternative and beneficial additives. Medicinal herbals and their extracts are compromised with diverse effects on the performances of aquatic animals. These compounds can affect growth performance and stimulate the immune system when used in fish diet. In addition, the use of medicinal herbs and their extracts can reduce oxidative stress induced by several stressors during fish culture. Correspondingly, aquatic animals could gain increased resistance against infectious pathogens and environmental stressors. Nevertheless, the exact mode of action where these additives can affect aquatic animals’ performances is still not well documented. Understanding the mechanistic role of herbal supplements and their derivatives is a vital tool to develop further the strategies and application of these additives for feasible and sustainable aquaculture. Gene-related studies have clarified the detailed information on the herbal supplements’ mode of action when administered orally in aquafeed. Several review articles have presented the potential roles of medicinal herbs on the performances of aquatic animals. However, this review article discusses the outputs of studies conducted on aquatic animals fed dietary, medicinal herbs, focusing on the gene expression related to growth and immune performances. Furthermore, a particular focus is directed to the expected influence of herbal supplements on the reproduction of aquatic animals.

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The immune response of T cells and therapeutic targets related to regulating the levels of T helper cells after ischaemic stroke

Journal of Neuroinflammation ◽

10.1186/s12974-020-02057-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tian-Yu Lei ◽

Ying-Ze Ye ◽

Xi-Qun Zhu ◽

Daniel Smerin ◽

Li-Juan Gu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

T Cells ◽

Immune System ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Ischaemic Stroke ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Tissue Injury ◽

Recovery Period ◽

Vital Functions ◽

Anti Inflammatory

AbstractThrough considerable effort in research and clinical studies, the immune system has been identified as a participant in the onset and progression of brain injury after ischaemic stroke. Due to the involvement of all types of immune cells, the roles of the immune system in stroke pathology and associated effects are complicated. Past research concentrated on the functions of monocytes and neutrophils in the pathogenesis of ischaemic stroke and tried to demonstrate the mechanisms of tissue injury and protection involving these immune cells. Within the past several years, an increasing number of studies have elucidated the vital functions of T cells in the innate and adaptive immune responses in both the acute and chronic phases of ischaemic stroke. Recently, the phenotypes of T cells with proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory function have been demonstrated in detail. T cells with distinctive phenotypes can also influence cerebral inflammation through various pathways, such as regulating the immune response, interacting with brain-resident immune cells and modulating neurogenesis and angiogenesis during different phases following stroke. In view of the limited treatment options available following stroke other than tissue plasminogen activator therapy, understanding the function of immune responses, especially T cell responses, in the post-stroke recovery period can provide a new therapeutic direction. Here, we discuss the different functions and temporal evolution of T cells with different phenotypes during the acute and chronic phases of ischaemic stroke. We suggest that modulating the balance between the proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions of T cells with distinct phenotypes may become a potential therapeutic approach that reduces the mortality and improves the functional outcomes and prognosis of patients suffering from ischaemic stroke.

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Why Does SARS-CoV-2 Infection Induce Autoantibody Production?

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10030380 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 380

Author(s):

Ales Macela ◽

Klara Kubelkova

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Immune System ◽

Host Cell ◽

Critical Role ◽

Cell Interaction ◽

Immune Recognition ◽

Autoantibody Production ◽

Host Cell Interaction ◽

Primary Virus

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces the production of autoantibodies, which is significantly associated with complications during hospitalization and a more severe prognosis in COVID-19 patients. Such a response of the patient’s immune system may reflect (1) the dysregulation of the immune response or (2) it may be an attempt to regulate itself in situations where the non-infectious self poses a greater threat than the infectious non-self. Of significance may be the primary virus-host cell interaction where the surface-bound ACE2 ectoenzyme plays a critical role. Here, we present a brief analysis of recent findings concerning the immune recognition of SARS-CoV-2, which, we believe, favors the second possibility as the underlying reason for the production of autoantibodies during COVID-19.

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MITF induces escape from innate immunity in melanoma

Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research ◽

10.1186/s13046-021-01916-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Luis Sánchez-del-Campo ◽

Román Martí-Díaz ◽

María F. Montenegro ◽

Rebeca González-Guerrero ◽

Trinidad Hernández-Caselles ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Immune System ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Nk Cell ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Damage Repair ◽

Reporter Assays ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Nk Cytotoxicity

Abstract Background The application of immune-based therapies has revolutionized cancer treatment. Yet how the immune system responds to phenotypically heterogeneous populations within tumors is poorly understood. In melanoma, one of the major determinants of phenotypic identity is the lineage survival oncogene MITF that integrates diverse microenvironmental cues to coordinate melanoma survival, senescence bypass, differentiation, proliferation, invasion, metabolism and DNA damage repair. Whether MITF also controls the immune response is unknown. Methods By using several mouse melanoma models, we examine the potential role of MITF to modulate the anti-melanoma immune response. ChIP-seq data analysis, ChIP-qPCR, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, and luciferase reporter assays were utilized to identify ADAM10 as a direct MITF target gene. Western blotting, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity assays were used to determine the underlying mechanisms by which MITF-driven phenotypic plasticity modulates melanoma NK cell-mediated killing. Results Here we show that MITF regulates expression of ADAM10, a key sheddase that cleaves the MICA/B family of ligands for NK cells. By controlling melanoma recognition by NK-cells MITF thereby controls the melanoma response to the innate immune system. Consequently, while melanoma MITFLow cells can be effectively suppressed by NK-mediated killing, MITF-expressing cells escape NK cell surveillance. Conclusion Our results reveal how modulation of MITF activity can impact the anti-melanoma immune response with implications for the application of anti-melanoma immunotherapies.

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Immune System Efficiency in Cancer and the Microbiota Influence

Pathobiology ◽

10.1159/000512326 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Ana Margarida Barbosa ◽

Alexandra Gomes-Gonçalves ◽

António G. Castro ◽

Egídio Torrado

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Immune System ◽

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Therapeutic Response ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Critical Role ◽

Antitumor Immune Response ◽

System Efficiency ◽

Novel Targets ◽

Cancer Immunosurveillance

The immune system plays a critical role in preventing cancer development and progression. However, the complex network of cells and soluble factor that form the tumor microenvironment (TME) can dictate the differentiation of tumor-infiltrating leukocytes and shift the antitumor immune response into promoting tumor growth. With the advent of cancer immunotherapy, there has been a reinvigorated interest in defining how the TME shapes the antitumor immune response. This interest brought to light the microbiome as a novel player in shaping cancer immunosurveillance. Indeed, accumulating evidence now suggests that the microbiome may confer susceptibility or resistance to certain cancers and may influence response to therapeutics, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors. As we move forward into the age of precision medicine, it is vital that we define the factors that influence the interplay between the triad immune system-microbiota-cancer. This knowledge will contribute to improve the therapeutic response to current approaches and will unravel novel targets for immunotherapy.

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Immunotherapy: New insights in breast cancer treatment

Human Antibodies ◽

10.3233/hab-210443 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Bader Alshehri

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Immune Response ◽

Immune System ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Immune Evasion ◽

Breast Tumor ◽

Parp Inhibitor ◽

Breast Cancer Treatment ◽

New Treatment

Breast cancer being the most malignant and lethal disease persistent among women globally. Immunotherapy as a new treatment modality has emerged in understanding the loopholes in the treatment of breast cancer which is mainly attributed to the potential of tumor cells to evade and survive the immune response by developing various strategies. Therefore, improved understanding of the immune evasion by cancer cells and the monoclonal antibodies against PD- and PD-L1 can help us in the diagnosis of this malignancy. Here in this article, I have highlighted that in addition to focusing on other strategies for breast cancer treatment, the involvement of immune system in breast cancer is vital for the understanding of this malignancy. Further, the complete involvement of immune system in the relapse or recurrence of the breast tumor and have also highlighted the role of vaccines, PD-1 and CTLA-4 with the recent advances in the field. Moreover, in addition to the application of immunotherapy as a sole therapy, combinations of immunotherapy with various strategies like targeting it with MEK inhibitors, Vaccines, chemotherapy and PARP inhibitor has shown to have significant benefits is also discussed in this article.

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